Scripture Verse

This same Jesus, Which is taken up from you into Heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into Heaven. Acts 1:11

Introduction

Words: Un­known au­thor (Würz­burg, Ger­ma­ny: 13th Cen­tu­ry) (Tu Chris­te nos­trum gau­di­um, part of the long­er Ae­ter­ne Rex al­tis­si­me). Trans­lat­ed from La­tin to Eng­lish by Da­vid T. Mor­gan in Hymns An­cient and Mo­dern, 1875, and his Hymns and Oth­er Po­et­ry of the La­tin Church, 1880.

Music: As­cen­dit John Stain­er, in Hymns An­cient and Mo­dern, 1875 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Mor­gan (head-and-shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els), would you ?

portrait
John Stainer
1840–1901

Lyrics

O Christ, our joy, gone up on high
To fill Thy throne above the sky,
How glorious dost Thou shine!
Thy sovereign rule the worlds obey,
And earthly joys all fade away
In that pure light of Thine.

To Thee in prayer Thy people bow;
O may our sins Thy pardon know,
The cleansing of Thy grace;
Then lift our hearts to Thee above,
On wings of faithfulness and love,
To seek Thy holy place.

So, when the sudden call shall sound,
And with Thy robe of clouds around
Thou, Christ, shalt come once more,
Thyself our judge may’st turn away
The penalty our sins should pay
And our lost crowns restore.

Ascended up from mortal sight,
Jesu, we praise Thee in the height,
Our joy, our great reward;
Whom with the Father we confess
And with the Holy Spirit bless,
One ever glorious Lord.